Staff Editorial: Thoughts on the college process as it gains speed

﻿We cannot begin to describe and relate all of the questions we have had to dodge this year.

“Where are you going?

“Have you heard from anyone yet?

“Well, what’s your top choice?

“Oh, you don’t have a top choice? Well then, what are your top three choices?”

Here are some things we would like to say instead of answering your questions, and we will make these as subtle as possible.

1. Please SHUT UP. We understand that you are curious. We get that you are invested in our lives and want to share the good news and advice with us. But please do not talk to us about this stuff before May 1, because chances are we are either very anxious about hearing back from somewhere or we are very anxious about making a decision. I’m sure your best friend’s nephew once removed had a wonderful time at that state school, but we are not your best friend’s nephew once removed, and we don’t want to hear about it unless we specifically ask you about it. So we ask that you please respect that.

2. If you insist that we answer your questions, we will probably lie to you. A lot of us are very uncomfortable sharing our personal college admissions with people, and chances are we will just tell you something to get you to stop asking questions.

3. Do not EVER ask us what our scores are. It doesn’t matter what type. It can be AP, SAT, ACT, PSAT, SAT subject tests, anything. The only people we should share our scores with are the schools we are applying to. It’s incredibly inappropriate to ask us what our SAT score is, and it shames me to think of how many times I have been asked to share my SAT score.

4. It makes us uncomfortable when people post their admissions acceptance letters on social media. Yes, that is very exciting that you got accepted into that school, and you should be proud. However, posting the admissions letter for a college you may not attend is fairly selfish. Consider all of those people out there who got denied or wait-listed there. How would they feel seeing that? On a related side note, letters that contain a message of scholarship just make people uncomfortable. Nobody really needs to know that you got the so-and-so award for $18,000 each year. So please keep that to yourself.

5. Please don’t reinforce the idea that the prestige of the school we are attending determines our worth. Yes, we know that you have probably never heard of the small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania that we are going to, but we are excited and we want you to be, too. We are very sorry that not all of us can go to an Ivy League school, but please be proud of us no matter what, not just if we are going to one of the top 10 colleges according to U.S. News and World Report. Let’s not forget that college is only one small piece of our life, and that our future successes and careers are still to be determined, no matter where we end up.